[After G. weltmacht.]
1. The power of ‘this world’ (as distinguished from the spiritual world); secular power.
1866. Baring-Gould, Cur. Myths Mid. Ages, Antichr. & Pope Joan, 159. Christ will descend to avenge the blood of the saints, by destroying Antichrist and the world-power.
1884. A. B. Davidson, in Expositor, Feb., 89. To crush the heathen world-power, and thereby abolish idolatry and open the way for the expansion of ‘judgment’ or the true religion.
2. Any of the powers (nations, empires) that dominate the world.
1901. Benjamin Harrison, in N. Amer. Rev., Feb., 184. If the World Powers have any recognized creed, it is that it is their duty as ‘trustees for humanity’ to take over the territories of all the weak and decaying nations, having regard among themselves to the doctrine of ‘equivalents.’
1904. J. Gairdner, in Camb. Mod. Hist., II. xiii. 472. The foundation of England’s greatness as a world-power.
